Kathleen, my friend, former roommate, and faithful-ally-against-melancholy-and-despair does these “Currently In [Insert Month Here]” things that I always enjoy reading. And since she is Currently my blogging hero, I decided to adopt the practice. BECAUSE I CAN. Enjoy!
Current book(s): I’m almost finished with Northanger Abbey, Austen’s posthumously published quasi-Gothic novel. I’ve enjoyed it very much, and it makes me want to visit Bath. I’m also slowly making my way through Kierkegaard’s Fear and Trembling and have about 40 pages to go. Anne Lamott said that the book changed her life. So far I’m a fan, but I don’t know if it’s having quite the desired effect on me. Next up is Elisabeth Kubler-Ross’s On Death and Dying, which is one of those books that I can’t believe never got assigned to me in seminary. So, I’m self-assigning it. Ministers are, after all, like mediators of life and death.
Current Playlist: Peter and I have been listening to Derek Webb’s newest album, Stockholm Syndrome, quite a bit. We’ve benefited from our access to the UK program Spotify, which allows us to listen to music for free. So, we’ve also been dabbling in Sigur Ros, She & Him, and Beirut. We like ambient music.
Current Shame-Inducing Guilty Pleasure: Traveling. It’s shame-inducing in that I am unemployed and feel as though I shouldn’t be spending a dime (or, rather, a pence) unless I’ve earned it. And yet, I can’t help myself but try to see this part of the world as much as possible before we leave it for (the foreseeable) good. This Saturday, I’m going to Spain: Madrid, Toledo, and Barcelona. Tapas, paella, sangria, and El Greco– here I come.
Current Drink: Here’s a shocker: DECAF coffee. I know, I know, it’s not real coffee. But the way Peter makes it, you’d never know the difference. Freshly roasted beans bought from our local roaster, freshly ground beans in our manual grinder, magical Scottish water, and a French press. It’s impossible NOT to be good. (We’ve decided to try to wean ourselves off caffeine in preparation for future life events… I’ll leave it at that). Other than that, we’ve found a whisky we like: Bruadar (Gaelic for ‘Dream’). Also, we’re currently working through a Casillero del Diablo cabernet sauvignon.
Current Food: Green&Black’s Organic Dark Chocolate (85% cocoa). Also, I finally got Peter to try some smoked salmon on his morning bagel with cream cheese. I don’t know if he was as big a fan as I am, but it was a victory nonetheless. Other than that, we’ve been eating lots of fruit and vegetables.
Current Favorite Show: House. Kathleen, I’m sorry for not watching it with you back when I had the chance. Because, for one thing, I’m madly in love with Hugh Laurie now. And also, WHAT A GREAT SHOW! Just as a piece of trivia-you-already-probably-knew, the birds-eye shots over the “Princeton Plainsboro” hospital are not the Princeton hospital at all. Instead, it is a shot over the Frist Student Center on the Princeton University campus. But! The building to its left (with the rounded walls) is a health clinic– in fact, it’s the McCosh Student Health Center where I worked for my three years of seminary. Ah, McCosh. I miss even you.
Current Wishlist: Pride and dignity. Or, you know, I’d settle for employment. I also wish that I had more direction in life and less confusion. I’m too old for this…
But if you mean, like, stuff? In that case, I’d like a new pair of jeans that fit me properly (hard to come by) and a new pair of boots. I can do without both, though. So, whatevs.
Current Needs: Oops. This is where I shoulda put that other stuff. Um, see first paragraph of “Current Wishlist.”
Current Triumphs: I submitted some writing to a publication. It was soundly rejected, but it was good for me to do nonetheless. Also, most of our laundry is done. And, I’ve convinced my mother to come over for a visit during her spring break. So, yippee!
Current Bane(s) of My Existence: Not knowing what is happening next for theklines. Not knowing how to plan or what to think. Also, while the weather is not nearly as miserable as it could be, I’ve never resented the darkness as much as I do here in Edinburgh.
Current Celebrity Crush: As aforementioned, I’ve fallen for Hugh Laurie. As a bonus, I think that Peter will probably look something like him as he ages. Observe:
See?
Current Indulgence: I am going to get a 30-minute aroma Zen massage tomorrow. Be envious. And then consider Peter, who is going in for a one hour and forty-five minute fully body treatment called a “Pre-Flight Delight” before his trip to Nashville this weekend. It includes a salt/sugar scrub, intensive leg and feet therapy, and a back/neck/shoulder massage. Holler.
Current Blessing(s): I am extraordinarily blessed by the people in my life. Living day in and day out with very limited human interaction has taught me to appreciate these relationships in new ways. So, thank you for your existence, people-in-my-life. More specifically, the following things have blessed my life tremendously lately: hot showers, a new mattress, a footwarmer we bought from a old folks’ place called “The Whistling Tortoise” (you can’t make this stuff up!), and the ease of short hair.
Current Outfit: I want to lie and describe something awesome and Euro-fabulous. In truth, I’m wearing blue striped pajama pants and a gray, hooded TCU sweatshirt. And yes, it’s 6:15 p.m. And no, I’m not even wearing a bra.
Current Excitement: My massage tomorrow. My trip to Spain with Alisa. I lovelovelove to have the ground beneath me on the move. I love to travel.
Current Mood: Kathleen said “Apart from the random pangs of sadness I get due to situations beyond my control, I am feeling very, very content.” I love that answer. I will adapt it a bit and say that, apart from the random pangs of sadness I get due to situations beyond my control, I am feeling very, very fine.
Current Link: sporcle.com WARNING: it’s highly addictive.
Happy February!













